Necticut



July 3, 1928.- 1,675,983

I w. MACRISTY FLOOR on CEILING PLATE Filed March 19, 1926 INVENTUR ATTORNEY Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER MACRISTY, NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO KEENEY MANU-FACTURING COMPANY, Oli NEWINGTON, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OF CON-NECTICUT.

FLOOR OR CEILING PLATE.

Application filed March 19, 1926.

This invention relates to a floor or ceiling plate, and among theobjects of the invention is the provision of an improved article of thisnature which is exceedingly simple and rugged in construction andeflective and convenient in action, and which is also attractive inappearance and capable of being very cheaply manufactured.

In the drawing accompanying and forn'iing part of the presentapplication 1 have represented in detail, for purposes of illustration asimple and advantageous form of embodiment of the invention which willbe set forth in detail in the following description.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of a form of the device showin itattached to a pipe and resting on the floor.

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing one of the sections as opened.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view, the dotted lines showing the action ofthe springs.

Figure 4 is a view from below showing one of the sections as partlyopened.

The illustrative plate shown herein comprises two complementaryseim-circular sections, indicated at 2, each having a usualsemi-circular pipe opening therein, these sections being of improvedconstruction and operatively connected in an improved manner, all ashereinafter described.

More particularly considering these sections, it will be noted that oneof the same is provided with a usual peripheral flange 3, while theother has a similar flange i, and that disposed between the ends ofthese flanges and on opposite sides of the pipe apertures are usualparallel vertical abutting flanges 5 and 6, the flanges 5 being on onemember 2 and the flanges 6 on the other. However, it will be noted thatthe outer ends of each of the flanges 5 and 6, i. e. the ends adjacentthe periphery of the section on each side of the pipe aperture, areformed or cut in such. manner as to form wings? and 8 thereon which eachinitially extend longitudinally of the flanges, as shown at 7 at theleft in Fig. 2. It will also be observed that apertures, herein in theform of perforations 11, are provided in the left hand flanges, as shownin dotted lines in Fig. 3 at a point nearer the pipe aperture than thewings on that side of the pipe aperture. Herein, these perforations arealso so disposed as to regis- Scrial No. 95,919.

ter, as are the wings 7 and 8, when two sections are brought together asshown in Fig. 3.

VVhil'e they do not per se form a part of the present invention and arenecessary only in certain uses of the plate, as for example whencovering an aperture in a ceiling, it will also be noted that pipeengaging means are provided on each of these sections 2 in the form ofsemi-circular flanges 9 carrying co-operating pipe engaging springs 10.As shown, the flanges 9 have usual raised portions thereon provided withslots adapted to receive flat pipe springs 10, these springs 10extending as cords across the semi-circular apertures and having theirtree ends bent over on the back of the flanges 9, all as illustrated inFigs. 2, 3 and 4:. It should, however, be noted that the pipe apertureis made slightly larger than the pipe with which it is intended tocooperate, in such manner as to provide play therebetween, While when apipe engaging means is provided this is also adapted to permit playbetween the pipe and the plate sections.

In order operatively to connect two sections to form a plate, the sameare pivotally connected in the complementary relationship shown in Fig.3. Herein, a pivot pin is passed through the set of registeringapertures 11 and fastened in position, preterably in such manner as tohold the two sections snugly together with their flanges 5 and 6 inabutment while yet permitting free movement of either section about theaxis of the pin. In a preferred form, I utilize a rivet as theconnecting means, finding that a rivet. producing as it does heads oneach side, is admirably adapted to connect the parts ruggedly in thedesired manner, at the same time that it may be cheaply provided andcheaply and quickly connected. As a result of this connection, it willbe observed thatthe parts may be separated by a movement of one or bothrelative to the pivot rivet 12, and that they are guided in theirmovement by the flanges 5 and 6, a sturdy construction thus beingprovided which is adapted to stand up well in service.

In order to hold the parts 2 in their assembled relationship shown inFigs. 1 and 3, I also provide suitable means adapted for connection ordisconnection by a movementabout the pivot pin 12. Herein, these meansare provided by certain of the wings 7 and 8 previously described, oneset of these wings 7 and 8, i. e. that located on the opposite side ofthe pipe aperture from the rivet 12 and the parallel or unbent wings onthat side of the pipe aperture, being bent back laterally,

as shown at the right in Fig. 3, so that either wing thereof may bemoved into and out of frictional gripping relationship with the otherwhen one or both of the parts 2 move about the pivot 12. Thus, it willbe noted that by a single opening or closing movement in one directionthe sections may be fully separated or closed without the necessity forconfusing movements in different directions.

In the use of my improved construction, when it is desired to attach theplate to a pipe, the sections 2 and 3 are separated by movement relativeto the pivot 12 to such an extent as to permit the pipe to engage thespring in thepipe aperture in one half, and the two halves are thenbrought together by a reverse movement relative to the pivotandautomatically held in position by the engagement of the wings 7 and8-as the parts come together, the springs 10 then gripping the pipe.Similarly, if it is desired to remove the plate, the play around thepipe permitsthe sections to be separated by movement relative to thepivot 12, which automatically results in the disconnection of the wings7 and 8 and subsequent full opening of the parts as they are movedrelative to the pipe. In either of these operations it will of course beevident that the plate may be moved bodily relative to the pipe intosuch angular relation to the pipe as to permit the plate section orsections to clear the latter during the closing or opening operatlon,and

that one or both sections may be moved as desired to facilitate theirconnection on or removal from the pipe. 7

As a result of my improvement, it will be observed that it is madepossible to make the halves very simple and connect them by very simpleyet effective connecting means capable of being provided at verysmallexpense. More particularly, it will be noted that the cuts for thewings and the holes for the rivet can be provided in the blank-and thatno extra parts other than the rivet are required, while the onlyassembly labor required is the insertion of the rivet adjacent one setof wings and the bending over of the other set of wings. 1t will also beevident that the connecting means are very rugged and adapted towithstand long use in service. These and other advantages of my improvedconstruction will, however, be clearly apparent-to those skilled in theart.

While I have in this application specifically described one form whichmy invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that theinvention may be modified and embodied in various other forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A floor or ceiling plate comprising two semi-circular sections havingdetachable interlocking devices on the front ends thereof and a pivotalconnection on the rear ends thereof, said devices and pivotal connectionbeing so constructed and arranged as to prescribe relative movements ofsaid sections in substantially parallel paths in planes perpendicular tothe plate and the pivot axis.

' 2. A floor or ceiling plate comprising two complementary sections,means including a transvcrsepivot member retaining their adjacentsurfaces in substantial parallelism while permitting movement in planesperpendicular to the plate and the pivot axis, and holding meansconnectable or disconnectable upon movement of a section about saidpivot.

23. A floor or ceiling plate comprising two complementary sections,means including a transverse pivot member ope-ratively connecting oneset of ends thereof while permitting movement in planes perpendicular tothe plate and the pivot axis, and holding means at the opposite endsthereof connectable and disconnectable upon movement of a section aboutsaid pivot.

4. A floor or ceiling plate comprising two complementary sections,parallel surfaces on different sections, a transverse pivot memberextending through said surfaces and holding the same together whilepermitting movement in planes perpendicular to the plate and the pivotaxis, and holding means connectable or disoonnectable by movement aboutsaid pivot. v

5. A floor or ceiling plate comprising two semi-circular sections, therear end portions of which are furnished with flanges and a rivetextending through the flanges and preventing lateral opening of thesections while permitting opening movement in planes perpendicular tothe plate and about the rivet axis.

6. A floor or ceiling plate comprising two complementary sections, therear end portions of which are furnished with vertical flanges, and apivot extending transversely through and connecting said flanges whilepreventing lateral opening of said sections, said sections beingadjustable about said pivot axis into full open or closed positions.

7 A floor or ceiling plate comprising two complementary sections, therear end portions of which are furnished with abutting vertical flangesand riveted transversely to form'a pivot while preventing lateral open.-ing of said sections, and the front end portions of which are providedwith interengaging portions connectable or disconnectable by movementabout said pivot.

8. A floor or ceiling plate comprising two 'tical flanges on theabutting edges thereof on opposite sides of said opening, certain ofsaid flanges each having a cut end adjacent the periphery of the sectionbentlaterally to form cooperating holding means operative upon sectionmovement perpendicularly of the plate, and a pivot pin connecting theother set of flanges preventing lateral opening of said sections whilepermitting opening movement about the pivot axis.

10. A floor or ceiling plate comprising a plurality of complementarysections each comprising a member provided with a pipe aperture thereinand vertical flanges on its apertured edge on opposite sides of saidaperture, said vertical flanges having out ends at the periphery of thesection and one set of ends being bent laterally and overlapping uponmovement perpendicularly of the plate while the other set is unbent andprovided with a perforation at a point nearer the pipe aperture, and arivet extending through the perforation in the unbent set of flangesconnecting the sections and preventing lateral opening thereof whilepermitting pivotal movement thereof about the pivot axis.

11. A section for a floor or ceiling plate comprising a member providedwith a pipe aperture therein and a vertical flange on its apertured edgeon one side of said aperture, said vertical flange including a wingadjacent the periphery of the section and said flange also having anaperture at a point nearer the pipe aperture.

12. A section for a floor or ceiling plate comprising a member providedwith a pipe aperture therein and a vertical flange on its apertured edgeon one side of said aperture, said vertical flange including a wingadjacent the periphery of the section and said flange also having aperforation at a point nearer the pipe aperture.

13. A floor or ceiling plate comprising a plurality of abuttin sectionseach provided with a pipe aperture therein and vertical flanges on itsapertured edge on opposite sides of said aperture, said vertical flangeseach having a wing adjacent the periphery of the section and certain ofthe same having an aperture at a point nearer the pipe aperture than thewing, said wings and aperture of one section registering with the wingsand aperture of its fellow and one of said sets of flanges having itswings bent to overlap while the other set of flanges carries connectingmeans including a connecting portion extending through the innerregistering apertures therein.

14. A floor or ceiling plate comprising a plurality of abutting sectionseach provided with a pipe aperture therein and vertical flanges on itsapertured edge on opposite sides of said aperture, said vertical flangeseach having a wing adjacent the periphery of the section and certain ofthe same having an aperture at a point nearer the pipe aperture than thewing, said wings and aperture of one section registering with the wingsand aperture of its fellow and one of said sets of flanges having itswings bent to overlap while the other set of flanges carries a rivetextending through the inner registering apertures therein and snuglyclamping together said flanges While permitting movement about t-herivet to connect or disconnect said overlapping Wings.

15. A floor or ceiling plate comprising a plurality of complementarysections each having vertical flanges on opposite sides of its pipeaperture with said sets of flanges on diflerent sections abutting, eachof said sets of flanges having undercut wings at the periphery of theplate and certain of the same having an aperture nearer the pipeaperture than the wing, and one of said sets of flanges having its wingsbent laterally and lying in overlapping relation at an angle to theflange body while the other set of flanges carries connecting meansconnecting said sections and permitting separation thereof after aninitial movement in a plane perpendicular to the plate to separate saidoverlapping wings.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

VALTER MACRISTY.

